Traditional Gingerbread Men

Name: Traditional Gingerbread Men
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 92 min
Yield: 20
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 350 g plain flour (plus extra for rolling); 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda; 2 tsp ground ginger; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 0.5 tsp ground nutmeg; 1 pinch salt; 125 g cold unsalted butter (cubed); 175 g light brown sugar; 1 Egg large egg; 4 tbsp golden syrup; 1 tbsp black treacle (for a deep traditional colour); 1 Egg egg white (for royal icing); 200 g icing sugar (sifted); 0.5 tsp lemon juice (for royal icing); 1 Unit food colouring (red and green, optional)

by katplaystennis • 2026

Why some badges are missing

Not vegan: cold unsalted butter → try dairy-free butter
Not gluten-free: plain flour → try gluten-free plain flour
Not dairy-free: cold unsalted butter → try dairy-free butter
Not egg-free: large egg → try ground flaxseed and water (1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, rested 5 min)
Not low-FODMAP: plain flour → try gluten-free plain flour
Not low-histamine: lemon juice
Not low-GI / diabetic-friendly: plain flour → try wholemeal flour
Not kidney-friendly: salt → try salt-free herb seasoning (or lemon zest and black pepper)

Based on listed ingredients — always check labels for allergies.

Prep

20m

Cook

12m

Rest

60m

Serves

Rating

—

Total time · 32m

Ingredients

Kitchen Help

Shopping list

350 g plain flour — plus extra for rolling
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
0.5 tsp ground nutmeg
1 pinch salt
125 g cold unsalted butter — cubed
175 g light brown sugar
1 Egg large egg
4 tbsp golden syrup
1 tbsp black treacle — for a deep traditional colour
1 Egg egg white — for royal icing
200 g icing sugar — sifted
0.5 tsp lemon juice — for royal icing
1 Unit food colouring — red and green, optional

Tools

· large bowl
· whisk
· rolling pin
· baking trays
· wire rack

Instructions

Step by step

1
Whisk flour, bicarbonate, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a large bowl.
2
Rub in the cold butter until it looks like breadcrumbs, then stir in the sugar.
3
Beat the egg with the golden syrup and treacle, pour in and stir to a soft dough. If it is sticky, add a spoon of flour.
4
Flatten into a disc, wrap, and chill for at least .
5
Heat oven to 180C / 160C fan. Roll to about 5mm thick on floured paper and cut your men. Re-roll scraps once only.
6
Place on lined trays with a little space between them. Bake 10- until firm at the edges and slightly darker at the feet.
7
Leave on the tray for , then move to a wire rack.
8
Pipe eyes, smile, bow tie and buttons with royal icing. Leave to set for .